Hurdle



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HURDLE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,443, dated December 6, 1898. Application filed Aprii 28,1898. sesamo. 679,061. (Nomaden To all whom, it may concern.- i n Beitknown that I, JAMES FOSTER, asubjec of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Hurdles, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in hurdles, and has for its object to so construct a device of this description as to provide for the two standard heights and at the same time render the device safe in that the top rail, if struck by the jumper, will swing out of the way, thus avoiding serious accidents which might otherwise occur.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combinaton of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, in

which- Figure l is a perspective of a hurdle made in accordance with my improvement; Fig. 2, an elevation thereof, one of the bearings being sectioned, so as to show the manner of swinging the frame; and Fig. 3, a perspective of a weight adapted for use in holding the frame in its highest position.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied I provide two standards A, each having a suitable base B, capable of sustaining the standard in an upright position, and between these standards is swung a frame C by means of the rod D, which latter is threaded at each end, as indicated at E, and passes over a metal bushing Gr, set in each of the standards.

A nut G is run upon each end of the rod D, and by binding these nuts against the inner side rails of the frame said frame will be held rigid with the rod, and a thumb-nut H is placed upon each end of the rod in such manner that they may be bound against the bushings F, thus creating sufficient friction to hold the rod D, and consequently the frame C, in any adjustment desired.

It is preferable that the washer I be interposed between each of the siderails of the frame and the standards, so as to give free action to the frame when it is revolved.

From this description it will be seen that when the hurdle is properly set, that should a person leaping thereover strike against the top rail the frame will swing forward and downward without the liability of throwing the person, and therefore avoid the possibility of injury either to the person or the hurdle, and the frame maybe again quickly reset, so that the jumping may proceed.

In practice only just enough friction may be brought into play by the adjustment of the thumb-nuts H to give the frame a staple equilibrium, since when the lower height is used the weight of the frame below the rod is sufcient to overbalance the hurdle used as the top rail, whereas when the frame is reversed a weight J, having a hook K, may be suspended from the lower rail, so as to overbalance the weight of the then top rail; but of course this weight must not be sufficient to render the frame too rigid or cause it to offer too much resistance should it be struck, and the desired stability to said frame, as before stated, is best had bya slight pressure of the thumb-nuts H.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful isl. The herein-described combination of two standards, a frame, a rod passing through the frame whereby said frame is pivoted eccentrically, metal bushings in the standards, nuts and thumb-nuts on the rod, said thumbnuts engaging the bushing, and a weight for engaging one of the rails, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The herein-described combination of two standards each having a suitable base forits support, a frame having two rails, a rod passed through the frame eccentrically, nuts run upon said rod so as to bind the frame thereto, metal bushings set in the standards to form bearings for the rod, thumb-nuts run upon the ends of the rod and adapted to bear against said bushings for giving the frame stability when in position, and a weight adapted to be suspended from one of the rails of the frame for overbalancing the other rail, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES FOSTER.

Witnesses:

II. B. HALLocK, SAMUEL STUART. 

